The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-06-02

PRESIDENT CLEvELAND'S address
upon receiving the Garfield statue at
Washington from the Society of the
Army of the Cumberland, is is q mod
ell of compressed thought, eloauence
and diction, unindicative of the men.
tai lethargy and lack of oratorical grace
which the Republican pre- SO has been
pie ased to mention among its animal
versions upon the Pre- sident. The
following is the address:
FELLOW CITIZENS: In performance
of the duty assigned 10 me on this oc-
casien, hereby accept in behalf of
the people of the United States, this
complete and beautiful statue. Amid
the Interchange of fraternal greetings
| between the survivors of the Army of
the t'umbei land and their former foes
upon the battlefield, and while the
Union General and the peoples Presi
| dent awaited burial, the common grief
of those magnanimous survivors and
mourning cltizens found expression in
| the determination to erect this tribute
| to American greatness and thus to
day in its symmetry and beauty 1t
presents a sign OF animosities forgot
| ten, an emblem Of brotherhood re
deemed, and a token of nation re-
| stored.
| Monuments and statues multiply
Throughout the land, fittingly illustra'
tive of the love and affection of our
grateful people, and commemorating
brave and patriotic sacrifices in war,
fame in peaceful pursuits or honor in
public station. But from this day forth
there shall stand at our seat of govern
ment this statue of distinguished
citizen who in his life and services
combined all these things and more
whicA challenge admiration in Amer
lean character-loving tenderness in
every domestic relation, bravery on
the field of battle, fame and distinc
ton in our halls of legislation, and
the highest honor and dignity in the
chief magistracy of the nation. This
stately effigy shall not fail to teach
every behOlder that the source o
American greatness is confined to nc
tcondition, nor dependent alone for Ii.
growth and development upon favor
able surroundings. The genius of oul
national life beckons to usefulness anC
honor those ia every sphere, and offer.
the highest preferment to manly hope
and sturdy, honest effort chastened
and concentrated by patriotic hope:
and aspirations AS long as this stat
ue stands let it be proudly remember
ed that to every American citizen th'
way is open to fame and station, unit
he, ,,
Moving un from high to higher.
| Becomes ON fortunes crowning slope
The pillar OF peoples hope
The center of worlds DESIRE"
Nor can we forget that 1t also teach
es our people q sad and distressin,
lesson, and the thoughtful citizen wh'
views its fair proportions cannot fai
o recall the tragedy of death which
brought grief and mourning to ever.
household in the land. But whil
American citizenship stands aghas
and affrighted that murder Snd assas
sination should luTk in the midst of {
free people and strike down the heat
of their government, fearless searcl
and the discovery of the origin ant
hiding place of these hateful and un
, natural things should be followed b.
solemn resolve to purge forever from
our political methods and from tn
operation of our government the per
versions aud misconceptions whicl
} gave birth to passionate and blood,
thoughts.
If fu this hour our admiration 70
the bravery and nobility of American
manhood and our faith in the pnssi
i bil,ties aud opportunities of Americal
, citizenship be renewed, if our appre
citation of the blessing of restore,
union and love for our government b
strengthened, and if our watchfulnes
: against the dangers of a mad chas
after partisan spOils be euickened, tn
dedication of this statue to the peopl
of the United States will not be il
vain.